Monthly Archives: February 2012

25.02.2012 RIYADH – The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia commemorated the 26th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986 in a simple ceremony attended by Embassy, POLO/OWWA officials and the members of the Filipino community.

The activities started with a flag raising ceremony followed by a communal rendition of the song Bayan Ko. Breakfast were served at the official residence of Philippine Ambassador H.E. Ezzedin Tago. – end-

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The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh recently received an electronic mail commenting on contents of social media sites, particularly photos uploaded by a Filipino community organization of a female “model” based in the Kingdom wearing a transparent night outfit. The photo drew negative reactions from locals, and requested the Embassy to remind those concerned to refrain from uploading such material online, as these photos are inconsistent with local customs and cultural sensitivities.

The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh urges all Filipinos in the Kingdom to be prudent and careful on the nature of photos and videos that they upload on social media sites.

The Embassy is issuing this Advisory to avoid unnecessary actions that might be taken against any group or individual by local authorities. –end–

PASAY CITY—A MONTHS-OLD program handing out business loans to returning migrant workers does not require collateral from borrowers, and a finance expert thinks borrowers might encounter uneasiness to repay these loans.

The context here, said the managing director of the microfinance network Seed Finance Corp., is the size of the enterprises vis-à-vis returning OFWs’ abilities to repay.

The loan range implies that borrowers run small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Meanwhile, lenders Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) will require OFW borrowers to show documents related to their enterprises, such as purchase orders and titles to equipment purchased. There’s no collateral required for this loan program.

And this is where Perez’s view comes in about borrowers’ “compunction,” or a person’s strong uneasiness caused by a sense of guilt.

Borrowers running SMEs have to title their properties just to secure their loans, though the situation might not be applicable to those running sari-sari (small retail) stores or buy-and-sell ventures. Titling these properties entails costs, in the hope that with the titling the enterprise grows. With such growth the enterprise will now institutionalize having purchase orders (like sari-sari stores) like what usual businesses have.

Then the uneasiness comes in since running the business, producing the titles and business-related documents, and repaying the loans all come into play for the OFW borrower. In such a situation, the scheme of not requiring collateral for these SME loans “might be disadvantageous to the banks (DBP and LBP),” Perez said.

The Reintegration Fund represents the new scheme of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) to hand out livelihood loans to overseas workers. No less than President Aquino III ordered the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to roll out this program.

But years of previous livelihood programs handled by OWWA, whether handled alone or in collaboration with financial institutions such as the National Livelihood Development Corp. (NLDC), have histories of high non-repayment rates by OFW borrowers.

Risks

THE fund has P0.5 billion each from Land Bank and DBP, as well as a guarantee amount of P1 billion from OWWA (the world’s largest migrant welfare fund whose resources come from US$25 membership fees that departing overseas workers pay on a per-contract basis).

Officials of Land Bank and DBP explained during the fund’s launch months ago that both banks will offer an interest rate of only 7.5 percent to each of the loans, payable from two to seven years.

The loans, said Land Bank’s Cressida Mendoza and DBP’s Brillo Reynes during the congress, will make up 80 percent of the total capital needed by the enterprise. There’s also a catch: The businesses to be financed by these loans “must be earning”.

That way, said Mendoza, the situation “will be mutually beneficial to the OFW and to the bank”.

NRCO director Vivian Tornea said in a DOLE release that while there’s no collateral, loan applicants must “guarantee the business enterprise… is viable and profitable —or earning, say, like P10,000 a month”.

Actually, Perez and another development finance expert, Hector de Pedro of the nonprofit Mandato Inc., think both LBP and DBP have proven track records in handing out these reintegration loans.

It’s just that the image of these banks as part of the “government” that worries both Perez and de Pedro. Government-run lending programs “fail,” de Pedro thinks, because “the (word) government is literally synonymous to the word dole out —and the approaches of some agencies do not breed entrepreneurs”.

Thus, Perez said the Reintegration Fund’s implementation “must maintain the discipline and conviction that it must be sustainable, thus must support clearly-viable or potentially viable (enterprises) with community impact”.

Not surprisingly, the Reintegration Fund leaves those OFWs planning to launch start-up enterprises by the wayside—similar to how banks offer loans to existing ventures (but not to start-ups).

The upside of this regulation by DBP and LBP is that government invests its loan resources on proven practices, and that means all figures are (easily) given. Still, new business models coming from OFW enterprise start-ups may not be developed “because there is no support,” said de Pedro.

Repayment

THE issue of repayment has haunted previous livelihood programs of OWWA, the most recent of which was the loans OWWA and the NRCO issued to OFWs displaced by the global economic crisis in 2009.

Previous OWWA and NRCO programs on reintegration saw OWWA directly providing these services, especially loans (even if OWWA is not a quasi-financial institution). OWWA also has a running Livelihood Development Program for OFWs (LDPO), in coordination with the National Livelihood Development Corporation —though information is not available on the nationally-run loan program’s repayment performance.

LDPO has its own repayment woes. For example, officials of a cooperative in central Philippines that is a conduit of LDPO loans said there is a “high” non-repayment rate among their OFW borrowers. The conduit, the Philippine Cooperative Central Fund Federation, then conducted a financial education and business assessment seminar to some of its borrowers so that the latter are told how to handle the capital they have.

For migrant civil society advocates like Carmelita Nuqui of the Development Action for Women Network (DAWN), the reintegration fund’s regulations are “different from what the government says in public”. Loans for returning migrants, Nuqui says, are available “but why can’t overseas Filipino workers get them right away if these are really for them?”

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Recently, the Saudi government appointed a new president for the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice who is known to be a more open-minded and progressive thinker.

However, the problem is not so much with the individuals on the commission but with the institution itself and how it operates.

For example, its executive bylaws in many respects are vague and have allowed some of its members to violate basic human rights, including in some cases the physical and verbal abuse of Saudi citizens.

Unfortunately, the commission’s executive bylaws outlined its powers and functions in only a general way, allowing too much license in how its mission was to be achieved.

As a result, this has led to the violations that are committed by the commission’s members. Indeed, the commission seems to exercise its power in excess of proper limitations and in violation of individual freedom. But let me be clear: I am not talking about the ritual of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice stated in the Qur’an which must be respected and followed by all Muslims, but about the unacceptable activities of the commission’s members.

Those acting on behalf of the commission have repeatedly shown that they do not respect the people’s right of privacy, and they engage in practices that are objectionable such as chasing and assaulting people and forcing segregation between men and women. read more>>>>>

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American Military personnel work at the site in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia where a warehouse was hit by an Iraqi Scud missile during the 1st Gulf War.

Year 1993 when I arrived in Jeddah, KSA and got involved in community service and at that time I can smell the remnant of the 1st Gulf War. During the first 4 years as an OFW I met some renowned Filcom Leaders based in Jeddah, to name a few like, Gerry Cuares, Ernie Geslani, Gil Manese, Gerry Sano, Rudy Dianalan, Omar Chip Tiozon, Jimmy Leonida, Manny Arroyo, Rashid Fabricante, Mel Dazo, Fred Castolome, Ernie Hernandez, Emman Bernaldez, Francis Oca and many more.

I was just an observer whenever a meeting was called; at that time I was a proud member of Boholano Community in Jeddah (BC-J), the Bohol Leyte OFW Cooperative (BLOC), and the Overseas Filipino Workers Cooperative Council (OFWCC). read more>>>>>>>

Patriotism & Nationalism: 12-year old Janella Lelis of Albay after this picture of her was taken by Francisco Pena Lozano while she was saving the Philippine Flag & braving the flood waters brought by Typhoon Juaning.

1987 Constitution Section 29.(3)All money collected on any tax levied for a special purpose shall be treated as a special fund and paid out for such purpose only. If the purpose for which a special fund was created has been fulfilled or abandoned, the balance, if any, shall be transferred to the general funds of the Government.

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1 February 2012/RIYADH : As part of the Philippine Embassy’s effort to enhance bilateral relations with the host country, the new Philippine Ambassador, His Excellency Ezzedin Tago met with officials of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology-KACST, the Saudi Arabian national science agency and its national research laboratories.

His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Suwaiyel, the President of KACST welcomed the visit and the meeting. The new Philippine envoy was accompanied by Vice Consul, Atty. Paul Saret, the mission’s Political and Economic Officer.

The main purpose of the visit is to promote bilateral technical cooperation under the aegis of the Philippine Saudi Arabia Cooperation Agreement on Economic Trade, investment and Technical Cooperation.

The Philippine Embassy wishes to discuss possible areas for joint research programs on the basis of earlier discussions made between KACST and the Philippines, Department of Science and Technology-DOST at the technical levels.

During the meeting the KACST President, Dr. Mohammed Al-Suwaiyel directed the KACST-Directorate of International Cooperation to identify specific areas of mutual interest in selected fields for joint collaborative research programs.

The Department of Science and Technology in the Philippines submitted list of Philippine Institutions responsible in their Research and Development such as in the field of Computer Electronic Research, Petroleum and Petrochemicals and Energy Research, Astronomy and Geophysics, Food Irradiation and Medical and Bioethics.

Aside from overseeing the welfare and protection of the estimated 1 Million OFWs in the Kingdom, the major task of the Philippine mission is to undertake bilateral agreements that will benefit both countries in the field of commerce, agriculture, engineering, science and technology. All of the mentioned areas can be achieved through collaborative means covered by the umbrella Memorandum of Agreement signed by the two countries in 1994. –end- By: BongA

It’s Not Easy (To Be Me) “OFW Empowerment Blog Theme Song”

“Població Filipina”

The Ministry of Culture of the Principality of Andorra, Spainhas started issuing postage stamps entitled“Població Filipina”on July 7. This is in recognition of the overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) economic contribution to the Principality.

The stamp features three children of Filipino origin who live in Andorra – Veronica, Dylan and Von Mart – wearing barong tagalog, balintawak and salakot.

TO: MY FELLOW OFW”s

To: My Readers

I love to hear or read your comments, concerns and inquiries to each of our blog post and it is my pleasure to give you advice or answer to your queries. However, you are kindly requested to make your queries short, precise and direct to the point so that I can find time to read and reply it at once.

Please be advised that ofwempowerment blog is part of my community service to all our fellow OFWs who need answer to their worries and woes; may it be personal or work related inquiry. Therefore, my services are more about “volunteerism” to serve you without financial recompense. Also, kindly note that important links and ads found in our blog is free of charge and OFWempowerment blog does not collect any monetary compensation for personal gain.

Be noted that the content of my reply regarding your inquiries does not constitute legal advice; specific assistance and guidance should be sought to proper Philippine Mission overseas and or Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) about your employment problem and or other related concerns with regards to your employment abroad.

Please note that I am an Overseas Filipino Worker like you and a visitor in this country (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Therefore, we are obliged to obey their laws and respect their customs, culture, traditions and religion.

I am not a lawyer nor do I have influence in any Government offices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and or Philippine offices abroad. I am not also a Philippine Government representative from the office of Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO/OWWA) or the Philippine Embassy.

You ask my opinion and my reply are expressed in good faith to the best of my knowledge and based on my own experience as an OFW in the Kingdom for almost 22 Years and as a Community Leader recognized by our Philippine Embassy and Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) / Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

I take absolutely no responsibility for the consequences arising out of such opinion or views. That is why I am asking you to seek more exact and accurate guidance, information and advice from the Philippine Government authorized representative or offices abroad overseeing the plight of our fellow OFWs.

Maraming salamat po sa inyong pang-unawa.

At your service.

BongA

BALINKBAYAN (INVEST AND START A BUSINESS)

COMMISSION ON FILIPINOS OVERSEAS

COMELEC (I-Rehistro)

Welcome to iRehistro for Overseas Voting, your portal to the on-line accomplishment of the Overseas Voter Registration Form (OVRF)

OFWEMPOWERMENT MEDIA FILE

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“Only a life lived for others is a life worth while” – Alfred North Whitehead

THE SUPREME COURT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

This government loses its soul if we fail to ensure decent treatment for all Filipinos.We default by limiting the contractual wages that should be paid to our workers when their contracts are breached by the foreign employers.While we sit, this court will ensure that our laws will reward our overseas workers with what they deserve: their dignity. Inevitably, their dignity is ours as well. - Supreme Court Decision G.R. No. 170139, August 05, 2014

POEA Primer

Outstanding OFW and Balikbayan Reputation Award (OBRA)

Click Poster for more details

O B R A is organized and produced by Ex-link events as an annual advocacy event for OFWs and Balikbayan. “OBRA aims to show to the OFWs and Balikbayans that they can live the right way and be successful. Most importantly, that there are people like them that has successfully accomplished the feat” – Mitch Ballesteros, CEO of Exlinkevents

Call Tel-PPT at 02-559-1111 to learn the process and requirements or click image above for more information.

To all aspiring OFWs out there, don’t use fraudulent documents to land jobs abroad, always think of the consequences that would befall upon you once you get caught. Be treated with dignity, our country’s pride is at stake. – Bong Amora

MINISTRY OF LABOR CALL CENTER # 920001173

The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh informs the public that the Saudi Ministry of Labor call center number is 92-000-1173.

The number provides information in Arabic and English for the following, which can be accessed by pressing first 2 for English and then the number for the service as indicated below:

Information on domestic labor (HSW) regulations. The number of the call center was provided to the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine delegation that recently concluded the Second Joint Commission Meeting in implementation of the bilateral agreement on domestic workers.

The Embassy urges all Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia to call the number in case of any inquiries on the Saudi labor law, Nitaqat, labor dispute settlement and complaints against employers or recruitment offices.###

DOLE-Department of Labor & Employment (PHILIPPINES)

Frequently Asked Questions on Overseas Employment (Click Image)

About “Direct Hiring or Name Hire”

Article 18 of the Philippine Labor Code prohibits any foreign employer from directly hiring a Filipino worker for overseas employment in order to curb if not to entirely eradicate the nefarious practice of foreigners exploiting Filipino migrant workers. Exceptions to this general prohibition exist making direct hiring possible, namely,

1) name hires or individuals who were able to acquire foreign employment through their own efforts without the assistance of local employment agencies; and

2) members of diplomatic corps, international organizations and employers who have been previously allowed by the Department of Labor and Employment in the Philippines to conduct direct hiring under the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Rules governing overseas employment.

Any interested foreign employer not falling within the exceptions stated may still hire Filipino workers provided they follow the process outlined by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

How do I file an administrative case at the POEA?

AGAINST RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

For violation of recruitment laws, rules and regulations

•overcharging of placement fee
•pre-mature collection of placement fee
•misrepresentation
•withholding of travel documents
•failure to deploy without valid reason
•failure to reimburse documentation expenses when deployment did not take place without the worker's fault
•substitution and alteration of employment contract

Where to get legal assistance:

Legal Assistance Division POEA head office or any POEA Regional Office AGAINST A FELLOW WORKER

DFA Red Ribbon – Marriage Contract Certificate

The DFA authentication attest to the genuineness of the signature appearing on the attached certification for the purpose of identifying a specific document and giving credence to the official acts of the notary public or certifying officer thereon for use, if and when required, as instrument of evidence in foreign countries.

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R.A. 10022

Section 1. Paragraph (e) of Section 2 of Republic Act. No. 8042, as amended, otherwise known as the "Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995," is hereby amended to read as follows:

“(e) Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and adequate legal assistance shall not be denied to any person by reason of poverty. In this regard, it is imperative that an effective mechanism be instituted to ensure that the rights and interest of distressed overseas Filipinos, in general, and Filipino migrant workers, in particular, whether REGULAR/DOCUMENTED or IRREGULAR/UNDOCUMENTED, are adequately protected and safeguarded."

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